well done

blank rome 10k?

guess im going somewhere else with my bk clkshp.

Milbank = cheap

Jenner's bonus is $50,000. It is listed on their website.

Katten's clerkship bonus is $15,000.

Covington is still at 35 and no bonus for muliple year or multiple clerkships.

I thought Williams & Connolly paid 90K for a two-year clerkship. That's what this site previously reported at least. Can anyone confirm either way?

Hogan doesn't have an automatic 35k bonus policy, it's discretionary based on what judge and can be less.

I have a friend who clerked who is at DLA and they got more than $15K. They did a two year, but still...

The higher the clerkship bonus, the farther up the list of shame a firm should go. If you're really the best or the smartest, then get your ass to the firm and start billing hours. You should be penalized for costing them a year of your fee generation.

can others confirm the 50K for wilmer bonus? it's the first time i've heard this.

The King & Spalding information is wrong. Right answer depends on the office. In Atlanta, K&S's standard clerkship bonus is $15K; in other cities (e.g., D.C.) the firm matches the market. I know at least one person in the Atlanta office who received a much higher clerkship bonus in order to meet the market in D.C., so it appears there is some discretion available to the hiring partners.

"The higher the clerkship bonus, the farther up the list of shame a firm should go. If you're really the best or the smartest, then get your ass to the firm and start billing hours. You should be penalized for costing them a year of your fee generation."

Can you retype this with some edits -- like clarifying what the hell you are trying to say?

I think Jones Day has increased to $50K.

Williams & Connolly has a $45k bonus for a one-year clerkship.

i think Katten's bonus is only for former summer associates, but I'm not positive about that.

No clerkship bonus at Wachtell. Cheap firm.

Note that a lot of these firms pay extra for Federal Circuit clerks--Finnegan's just unusual in that it's an IP boutique, so they're not trying to lure non-Fed. Cir. clerks.

But for a Federal Circuit clerkship a lot of firms will do $70K or even $75K. Rumor has it this can even be cumulative with a district court clerkship bonus some places...

Wachtell also has a website from the 80's. They don't care.

Compare the "recruiting" part of Wachtell's site to, say, Sidley, or even better, White & Case (where they give you 50 videos telling you how great it is to work there).

Wachtell gives you a paragraph and a submission form.

Any idea when these usually pay out?
Can you get the bonus before you start work? It'd be nice to have that cash when I'm moving / buying a place in August.

related question to 12:10 -- how long do you actually have to stay to get/keep the bonus?

12:10:
A friend at the Houston office of Baker Botts received the bonus even before starting with the firm, which was useful while he clerked and received a lower salary. Some other firms, like the one I'm joining will pay the bonus in the first check after you start working at the firm. I think, but I'm not sure, that the latter scenario is the most common.

HOW ABOUT JD/MBA bonus/tenure credit information?

"A friend at the Houston office of Baker Botts received the bonus even before starting with the firm, which was useful while he clerked and received a lower salary." This could get your friend and Baker Botts in serious crap. Clerks are not supposed to accept bonuses from firms while they are clerk -- at least that is the policy in the 2d Cir.

covington doesn't pay more for two-year clerkships

12:26 - covington only pays 50k-70k in NYC

Does anyone know if an associate who came straight from law school, then clerks, then returns to the firm gets a bonus? Or are bonii only for those who go straight from law school to clerking?

12:43,

Firms generally pay bonusES to former associates who return from clerkships.

And for God's sake, as I've said here before, "bonii" is not even correct Latin. Stop sounding like a pretentious douche.

12:23: The policy varies by judge. My Anonymous Circuit Judge, for instance, follows the same policy as the 2d Circuit, but not all do.

Williams & Connolly does $45k for a year of clerking.

"bonii" is stupid. JDMBA needs to shut up.

Wachtell's page sucks. But its still better than Berkshire Hathaway's webpage...
http://www.berkshirehathaway.com/

The ethical rules for clerks only bar the accepting of bonuses while clerking. While it seems strange, unless your individual judge has his own policy, you are free to accept all the money you want prior to starting your term with the judge.

But your judge can't waive your ethical responsibilities. My understanding is that clerks are not allowed to accept their bonuses early, period. Some judges allow it, but the clerk is still in violation of the rules.

Lat -- will you republish the list on a semi-regular basis to update the info?

how long do you actually have to stay to get/keep the bonus?

Can anyone confirm Goodwin to $50? I thought they were still at $35.

1:47,

It appears as though you're disputing what I said at 1:27. If so here is a quote from Advisory Opinion #83 to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees:

Acceptance of Bonuses Before The Clerkship: With respect to any type of bonus to be paid before the recipient begins work as a law clerk, the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees applies only to "employees of the Judicial Branch," not to prospective employees. Similarly, 5 U.S.C. § 7353, which prohibits the solicitation or acceptance of "anything of value" from someone (e.g., a law firm) "doing business with" the court, applies only to "employees" of the judicial branch; this is also true with respect to Canon 4B(3). Accordingly, a prospective law clerk is not prohibited from accepting a "clerkship bonus," a "signing bonus," or other bonuses before the beginning of the clerkship.

Acceptance Of Bonuses During The Clerkship: A law clerk may not, during his or her service as a law clerk, accept any bonus given in anticipation of services to be provided for the clerk's future employer. This would violate the explicit terms of Canon 4B(3) and 4C, as well as the prohibitions of 5 U.S.C. § 7353 (no judicial employee shall "accept anything of value from a person . . . seeking official action from or doing business with" the court).

The whole opinion can be found here:

http://www.uscourts.gov/guide/vol2/83.html

Like I said before, unless your judge says otherwise, you're free to accept a bonus prior to starting your clerkship, you just cannot accept a bonus during the clerkship.

Even if it were a correct Latin usage (which it is not), it would be spelled "boni," not "bonii."

Can anyone confirm Arnold and Porter at $50k? Last I heard it was more like $21k (and is there a differentiation between district and circuit clerking?)

does anyone know whether firms give the bonus for foreign courts or international tribunal clerkships?

2:45,

I don't know about A&P specifically, but I've never heard of a firm distinguishing between district and circuit clerkships for bonus purposes, except for Federal Circuit clerks.

Rumor has it that Mayer Brown is negotiating Supreme Court clerkship bonuses at $275,000.

DLA's information is incorrect. They pay 10K. That's what they told me when I applied, so, I went elsewhere. Cheapskates...

3:46 -- they just did not really want you. I received $75,000.

A&P has moved to $50K.

Two others have already asked but no one has answered so I'll ask again:

Does anyone know how long you have to stay at a firm after taking the clerkship bonus? I have heard a story about someone who left after a year being asked to pay back a clerkship bonus.

yeah - i would like an answer to 6:45's question also. i'm wondering how long i have to stay at my firm after i accept the summer stipend also. even if it's not a written policy, what is good business etiquette in a situation when you have received $60K in bonuses and stipends from your employer?

There is supposedly a gentlemen's agreement that you'll stay for two years if you take a Supreme Court bonus. But there is a big difference between a $250,000 and a $50,000 bonus and I don't think anyone really asks Supreme Courts to pay back their bonus.

anyone know how and if any of these bonuses apply to Bankruptcy Clerks?

9:15,

I think you should assume that they don't as a matter of written policy. But I bet a lot of firms will negotiate with you. You should get something out of the deal

I thought I'd add a couple comments on the comments.

11:10, tipsters have confirmed the 45K/90K policy at Williams & Connolly.

11:32, Jones Day's site still claims 35K, but perhaps they just haven't updated.

2:23, I'm pretty sure that Goodwin's at 50K.

5:01, I know that Arnold & Porter is paying 50K in New York this year, but am not sure whether it's still 35K in DC. Do you know? (Note that Covington has different bonuses. Good catch, 12:27!) By the way, as long as we're talking about benefits at Arnold and Covington, I should point out that Arnold & Porter has on-site childcare in DC, and Covington has near-site childcare. Kudos to both firms. (I believe Crowell has on-site childcare as well, so kudos there as well.)

9:15, firms vary on whether their bonuses will be the same for bankruptcy, magistrate or state supreme court clerks. For example, I believe Reed Smith will only pay a $10K bonus to state supreme court clerks. Bankruptcy work, however, appears to be heating up, so I would expect your bonus prospects (and your employment prospects) to be pretty strong, as long as your academics are on par with your district court peers.

6:45, most offer letters I've seen don't impose a minimum duration upon clerks once they've received their bonus, although I suppose there could be some fine print in a firm's policy manual that might surprise you later on. As a general rule, though, it's a bad idea to leave an employer after less than one year, unless you're moving along with an entire practice group.

And with that, I now return to scheduling interviews. ;)

Keep all those tips coming!

- Justin

Anyone know what Steptoe's DC bonus is?

A&P's bonus for clerkships is 50k in DC. There is no differentiation between district and circuit clerkships and there is no increased in bonus for multiple clerkships.

Can anyone comment on Hunton or Troutman?

Some of these bonuses are so paltry they are pathetic! Clerks defer a real-world salary for a year (or two!), and they should be rewarded with a bonus that could at least allow them to buy a decent car. I don't think 10k could even buy a Civic!

How much does WilmerHale pay for Federal Circuit clerks? Since IP is getting big there, they surely must respond to the Fed Cct hiring market.

Ropes is completely wrong. They're a $50/70 firm, as reported in these pages. That obvious mistake makes me question all the numbers in this chart.

For those clerks who have been applying to firms lately, how long does it usually take for them to respond? I sent out resumes/cover letters to 4 firms on Sunday and haven't heard anything back yet. When should I expect to hear?

District Court Clerk, it really varies from firm to firm.

A few firms have gotten back to me with interview requests in under an hour, but most firms will take a week or two.

10:21 - which legal market?

when a firm increases their clerkship bonus in the middle of the year (i.e. after some people who are clerking have accepted offers with the firm), does the increased amount apply to all of the people currently clerking or only to those who have yet to accept offers?

I am pretty sure that it does.

How long do west coast firms typically take to respond to an application? In other markets I have heard within 2 days, so I am getting a little nervous (not sure if the delay is typical or a bad sign).

I applied to a few San Diego firms 10 days ago and haven't heard anything back. I'm thinking it's not a good sign, but if anybody can tell me different I'd love to hear it.

This may not apply to you, but San Diego is a tough market if you have no ties. Indeed anywhere in CA is a tough market if you have no ties. You might try contacting recruiting people/letting firms know you will be in the area or something like that to see if you can leverage an interview. I know that L&W San Diego had a record summer class last year and I think almost everyone accepted, so that might affect hiring for the firm. I'm not sure about other places. If you only applied to a few places you should perhaps apply more broadly. (I got a job in SD, but I felt the market was a little tight).

Morgan Lewis in DC raised to $50K for district court.

covington d.c. is definitely $50 (just raised it).

also, re: how long you have to stay, one offer that i got said that if i left within a year, i would have to refund the clerkship bonus and the bar stipend/materials/fees money. but i think that varies from firm to firm.

6:13 -- 2:37 is right. san diego is tough. i'm a circuit court clerk, applied to several san diego firms, heard from a few that said they had already completed fall hiring (including latham), and many didn't bother getting back to me at all. the one interview & offer i got i had a friend at the firm who circulated my resume which probably helped.

sorry for the threadjack.

Any bonus info on Hunton in Richmond? What about Troutman?

In response to AL_BKclerk's 9:15 post:

Bankr. clerks in NY certainly get bonus' at every firm we interview at. We are considered the same as the district court clerks for these purposes and I interviewed with multiple firms, none of which even questioned the fact that I was a bankr. clerk and not a district or circuit clerk. It is on a firm by firm basis but generally speaking- NY firms give all federal law clerks bonus'.

Does anyone know what Clifford Chance is paying as a clerkship bonus?

Hughes Hubbard & Reed pays a $50K bonus.

I've heard a rumor that its possible to negotiate with firms (even the big ones, that adopted the standard $50k long ago) for higher bonuses on a one-off basis. Can anyone confirm this? Meaning, has anyone actually asked, and been successful, at getting a higher bonus than what the firm post's publicly?

Jenner adopted a 50K one-clerkship, 70K district and circuit clerkship bonus.